New Barcelona coach looking at Inter veteran

New Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino is considering the potential purchase of Inter central defender Walter Samuel, it is understood.

The 50-year-old wants to strengthen Barcelona’s defence after Bayern Munich’s 7-0 thrashing of the Catalan side on aggregate in the Champions League semi-final provoked widespread criticism.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca report that, for this reason, Martino is thinking about signing Argentine compatriot Samuel, along with Santiago Vergini of Newell’s Old Boys, the club Martino has just left.

Samuel is now 35-years-old and played one season for Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid in 2004/05, but started his career with Newell’s Old Boys.

Barcelona’s interest in Argentinian options comes after former Roma defender Marquinhos, whom the club were looking at, signed for Paris Saint-Germain.

However, the club still hope that his new teammate, fellow Brazilian and former AC Milan centre-back Thiago Silva, will make a move to the Camp Nou.